Harry Maguire wants to stay at Manchester United. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire says the opportunity to join West Ham United ‘wasn’t there’ because the two clubs failed to agree a fee.
The defender was expected to leave Old Trafford last summer after being stripped of the club captaincy.
West Ham boss David Moyes made no secret of his desire to sign Maguire and a fee of £30million was said to have been agreed between the two clubs.
It was reported, however, that Maguire wanted to stay at the Theatre of Dreams in order to fight for his place.
However, Maguire says the ‘opportunity’ to move to east London was not there because the two clubs failed to settle on a fee.
Maguire has two years left on his deal (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
‘Regular game time is really important to me, it has been throughout all my career,’ said Maguire.
‘The actual opportunity to go to West Ham wasn’t really agreed between both clubs and myself, so it wasn’t just my chance to say ‘yes’ and I’m doing.
‘The actual opportunity wasn’t there because we didn’t get far enough down the line with it.
‘West Ham are a massive club, my focus is still on Manchester United.
‘I want to fight for my place, but, of course, game time is really important to me.’
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